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Committee narrows scrap‑stop relocation choices; University Place cul‑de‑sac favored if timeline allows
Summary
Staff presented three candidate sites for relocating Middleton’s county-funded scrap stop. The committee expressed concerns about using the Harbor Athletic Club lot and generally favored the University Place cul‑de‑sac site if the county grant timeline (reimbursement by May 15; grant ends May 31) can be met.
At the March 23 meeting the Public Works Committee reviewed options for relocating the county-funded "scrap stop" (yard/food scraps drop-off) as staff and the county work to move the unit from a developable Terrace Avenue site.
Kelly Hillyard, Middleton’s sustainability coordinator, described three candidate locations: a University Place cul‑de‑sac beside Walgreens, the Market Street/Greenway Station parking lot (city‑owned), and the parking lot behind Harbor Athletic Club (city‑owned). Hillyard said the county would pay relocation costs and handle crane rental and pad construction if reimbursement paperwork is completed by May 15; the USDA grant backing the move expires May 31.
Members and committee attendees weighed pros and cons. Several members and attendees said the Harbor Athletic Club parking lot is a poor fit because it has heavy pedestrian use (including many elderly patrons and children) and narrow circulation. “I almost feel the University Place even though it has a little bit of a tighter curve… I really don't think the harbor one is a good idea because of the amount of traffic and the amount of elderly patrons and children walking through that exact area,” one committee participant said.
Staff noted the University Place location is centrally visible and on a bus line and that typical user dwell times at the scrap stop are short (often under two minutes), but sustainability committee members raised concerns about congestion during the seasonal farm stand near the real estate office. Committee members requested drawings that show vehicle pull‑up locations and dimensions (two dedicated unload spaces and circulation allowances) so council can assess peak scenarios before formal approval.
Outcome: The committee generally agreed Harbor Athletic Club is not suitable and expressed a preference for the University Place site provided the county’s grant timeline can be met and staff can show vehicle circulation drawings for common busy scenarios. Staff will include the three sites in an agreement with the county to be taken to Common Council on April 7 or April 21 for final site selection and contract approval.
Why this matters: The Middleton scrap stop is one of seven county sites and among the most heavily used; site choice affects accessibility, traffic flow, visibility of composting services and neighborhood impacts.
What’s next: Staff will take the three candidate locations and the county agreement to Common Council and will provide vehicle pull‑up sketches to aid review.
